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6 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | JANUARY 2021 By Bob Chaparro, Resident The Hemet Farmers Fair once was a major annual event in Hemet, attended by both local residents and visitors from throughout Southern California. Its origin was the 1925 Southern California Fair, sponsored by the 46th District Agricultural Association in response to Riverside leaders lobbying for an official regional fair. With the onset of the Great Depression the fair was unable to operate. In 1936, local civic leader J. C. Loomis, who was in the seed, feed, grain brokerage and turkey hatchery businesses, revived the fair as the Hemet Utility Turkey Show and relocated it to Hemet. Initially held to generate interest in the turkey industry, the early shows featured exhibits from milling companies, feed dealers and equipment suppliers. As the show became popular other general agricultural exhibits were soon added. It became a showcase for farmers and housewives to display their produce and creative wares. During World War II the show was suspended. In 1946 the show officially became the Farmers Fair of Riverside County. In 1947, the District Agricultural Association acquired a 40-acre site at the southeast corner of Florida and Palm Avenues in Hemet, where the Fair remained for 40 years and its identity as the Hemet Farmers Fair became well established. In 1948 Loomis suggested acquiring surplus buildings from Camp Hann in Riverside and these were brought to the site. Nothing remains. Today the site features the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, Starbucks and O'Reilly Auto Parts, plus much vacant land. One of the highlights of the Fair was the Farmer's Daughter competition. Young women, each representing a city from Riverside County, competed in various competitions such as tractor driving, sewing, milking, fish cleaning, cutting men's hair, cooking, and cow herding. Other activities were a carnival midway, music and stage shows, livestock and agricultural exhibitions, puppet shows, judged craft and arts competitions, midget automobile races, baking contests, antique car parades, fine arts and photography displays, gem and mineral exhibits, displays of hobbies, crafts and floriculture, square dances and championship rodeos. The Fair was well attended and typically ran for five days. In 1960, when only 5,400 people lived in Hemet, Fair attendance was 34,000. In 1980, the population was 22,500 and Fair attendance was 88,000. In 1987, the Fair moved to its present 108-acre site at the Lake Perris Fairgrounds, adjacent to the Lake Perris recreational area. The name has reverted back to the Southern California Fair. And the era of the Hemet Farmers Fair came to an end. The Hemet Farmers Fair By Theresa Rossetti, Resident Photos courtesy of Jim Harris, Resident If you've been to Diamond Valley Lake Park, you've probably noticed the Memorial with the photo of Hemet resident, Palm Springs Police Officer Lesley Zerebny. The Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District voted to put up the First Responders Memorial Wall in 2019. Officer Zerebny and her partner Jose Gilbert (Gil) Vega were killed in the line of duty in Palm Springs while answering a domestic disturbance call. Officer Zerebny, 27 years old, had been on the force for 18 months and recently returned from maternity leave. Officer Vega spent 30 years in service, his retirement imminent. They were the first officers to be killed in service in Palm Springs since 1962. Especially after the year we've all gone through, we must never forget the sacrifice of all the first responders who spend hours serving and protecting. Diamond Valley Lake Park Memorial

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